Here are three clips to celebrate James and her legacy. The first is a spectacular performance of her hit “I’d Rather Go Blind” with Dr. John. The second finds her rocking the house with Chuck Berry, Keith Richard and friends on Berry’s “Rock and Roll Music.” The third is a take on Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” captured on New Years Eve 1982 with the Grateful Dead.

As Terry Adams says in the video below, “Gimme a beat! Gimme what I love, that beat baby!”

More importantly, I want to extend a huge thank you to our posse of reviewers: Todd, Chip, Kelly, Eli, Shawn, and Jeff who volunteer their time to write many of the amazing reviews that you enjoy on a regular basis. I especially want to thank Mayer who works hard behind the scenes week after week to help us coordinate posts and for letting us live vicariously through all the live show experiences he shares with us.

Also, we can’t go without thanking all of you who read our articles and pass them on. We now have over 1,000 followers on Twitter and over 800 on Facebook which means our audience continues to grow. We write about Alt-Country, Americana, Folk, Rock & Blues music to share our own passions with others. So thank you for helping to keep the dream alive!

Twangville Tees

Before you go, be sure and check out our swanky new Twangville Tee Shirt Shop. For a limited time, we’re selling them as cheap as it costs to make ‘em as our way of saying thanks for your support. To sweeten the deal we’re giving away two free shirts! All you have to do is comment by midnight EST on Thursday, December 1, 2011 and tell us your favorite post from 2011. We’ll pick two random winners from all those who comment and follow up by email.

As a cheatsheet, here are a few of my personal favorites:

• John Prine – The Singing Mailman Delivers
• Glossary- Long Live All Of Us
• Mason Jennings – Minnesota
• Photos that ROCK! Hoots & Hellmouth
• Americana 2011: Say What?!
• Americana 2011: The Sounds
• The Alabama Shakes- The Alabama Shakes [EP]
• Americana 2011: The Awards
• Americana 2011: The Scene
• The Jayhawks – Mockingbird Time
• Southern Culture On the Skids – Zombified
• Stockbridge to Boston: A Special Playlist
• Photos that ROCK! Jason Isbell
• Day 2 – Sunday Life is Good Festival
• Day 1 – Saturday Life is Good Festival
• Slaid Cleaves – Addendum
• Slaid Cleaves – Sorrow & Smoke: Live At the Horseshoe Lounge
• Frank Turner- England Keep My Bones
• John Hiatt- Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns
• Grace Potter & the Nocturnals Live at Ives Park (06.27.11)
• Gillian Welch – The Harrow & the Harvest
• American Gun Is In Therapy
• Monday Morning Video: Clarence Clemons
• Really Rockin’ in Boston: A Special Playlist
• Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers- Starlight Hotel
• Jason Isbell – To the Ends of the City
• Kasey Anderson- Heart of a Dog
• Shoulda Been Huge: A Special Playlist
• Sarah Jarosz – Follow Me Down
• Ben Sollee- Inclusions
• Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
• Old Settler’s Music Festival 2011 Review
• Twangville Talks to Jason Isbell
• Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Here we Rest
• SXSW 2011: Say What?!
• SXSW 2011: The Video Companion
• Prima Donna: #4 of John’s ‘Fantastic Four of SXSW 2011’
• SXSW 2011: The Sounds, Part 2
• Hunx & His Punx: #3 of John’s ‘Fantastic Four of SXSW 2011’
• SXSW 2011: The Sounds, Part 1
• Biters: #2 of John’s ‘Fantastic Four of SXSW 2011’
• My Jerusalem: #1 of John’s ‘Fantastic Four of SXSW 2011’
• John’s SXSW Roundup, Starring Alejandro Escovedo, Jesse Malin, and the ‘Fantastic Four of SXSW 2011’
• SXSW 2011: The Scene, Part 2
• SXSW 2011: The Scene, Part 1
• The Civil Wars – Barton Hallow
• Justin Townes Earle – Live At the Rio Theater
• Lucinda Williams – Blessed
• The Drive-By Truckers- Go Go Boots
• Ben Nichols (Lucero) Talks to Twangville

I know that it is time to get back on the road when I run out of those little shampoos. Road Manager Phil Kaufman

I don’t get Twitter. I’ve got more to say than 140 characters. Ian McLagan

You should think about firing someone. Ian McLagan to Amy LaVere in response to her comment about the complexities of packing five musicians and a stand-up bass into a 12-foot van.

There’s no gas station in America that I haven’t peed in. Brian Henneman, speaking about life on the road

I turned into a swearing sailor, I cried and I got paid. Amy LaVere on the one time a venue manager refused to pay her after a performance.

Well I’ve been writing with this guy for 40 years. John Oates, in response to a question about “horror stories” when collaborating with another songwriter

That smells delicious. Is that beef tip? I love beef tip. The Deep Dark Woods singer Ryan Boldt talking, between songs, to a woman with take out at the front of the stage.

Because the instruments are lighter to carry. The Bottle Rockets’ Brian Henneman in response to Mojo Nixon’s question on why the band recorded an acoustic album.

I’m never going anywhere without Buddy Miller. Robert Plant while receiving an Americana Music Award for the Band Of Joy, his band that features Miller on guitar.

I’m really really not that good. But I get to play behind a lot of talented people. Buddy Miller accepting the Instrumentalist of the Year award

Did you ever think you’d be sitting in the Ryman watching Robert Plant? Jim Lauderdale after Plant and the Band of Joy performed at the Americana Music Awards.

I kept dreamin’ of American music. I stole a great deal with my old companions. Robert Plant

The bluegrass guys were ‘don’t ever go to Nashville, it’s a poison town.’ So I went to Nashville and it was a poison town. Jerry Douglas

When I was 13 or 14, my father gave me a job working in the bars. Yea, the bars. Jerry Douglas

We’re sweatin’ up here like Rush Limbaugh at a Steve Earle concert. Jim Lauderdale, while performing with Buddy Miller.

Be nice to the nice officer even if he’s not nice to you. James McMurtry

I’ve just been informed that this is a 45 minute set, not an hour. That means that I should get right to the hits. James McMurtry

Here’s one of those sensitive love ballads that we’re famous for. James McMurtry

Here’s a song. It’s about things. The Deep Dark Woods singer Ryan Boldt introducing the band’s next song. He was right.

That’s the automatic tip machine. Musician Eileen Rose pointing to a nearby ATM

People really wanted to hear a full band and we finally got the message. Gary Louris, on the Jayhawks reunion.

I don’t want to think about what to wear every night. I just want to wear a suit. John Paul White, on his performance wardrobe

I never wanted to sing with anyone before but I met this guy. Joy Williams of the Civil Wars
Exactly what a husband wants to hear. John Paul White, her performing partner, in response. Williams husband was also sitting on the panel.

The solution to digital piracy is bringing back vinyl. Neil Portnow, President of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences

This is the point in the show where I break out the accordion to certify my Americana credentials. Hayes Carll

We’ll do this one song in 12 different languages. This is English. Hayes Carll, introducing his next song

If you don’t like rockabilly, you’re in the wrong bar. Foster and Lloyd

I don’t know why I have to sing after Mike Farris. He put a hurt on me. Jimmy Hall following Farris at the Muscle Shoals tribute show. Farris did.

Set aside any the speeches and performances, the event was held in the legendary Ryman Auditorium. Originally built for religious revivalist meetings, it achieved great fame as the original home of the Grand Ole Opry and as a revered venue for every great country – and Americana – recording artist.

A special location demands a special band, and, in that respect, the Americana Awards didn’t disappoint. Led by Buddy Miller, the house band included Don Was on bass, Cody and Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi All-Stars) on drums, guitars and various other instruments, John Deaderick on keys and the masterful Greg Leisz on steel guitar. Adding their special vocal harmonies were The McCrary Sisters: Ann, Regina and Alfreda.

The moments came fast and furious. The show opener was a tribute to the 10th anniversary of the “O Brother Where Art Thou?” soundtrack. Buddy Miller, Jerry Douglas, Don Was, Alison Krauss and Emmylou Harris harmonized beautifully on “I’ll Fly Away.” Talk about an impressive beginning.

Greg Allman, still recovering from a recent health issue, accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award and performed “Sweet Melissa.” Keb Mo, presenting Allman with his award rightfully said, “It’s our privilege to honor a man who would be in several Hall of Fames if he never opened his mouth. He’s that good with his fingers.”

An emotional Lucinda Williams, also Lifetime Achievement Award winner, fittingly performed “Blessed.”

Dobro legend Jerry Douglas, known for his storied career as a session musician and band member, was presented with his award by Alison Krauss, with whom he has been performing for more than 12 years. Krauss movingly credited Douglas with revitalizing the band at a pivotal moment.

Others receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards were Bob Harris, a British broadcaster who has long championed Americana artists, and Rick Hall, the producer who helped define the the Muscle Shouls sound. Hall was inducted by R&B Legend Candi Staton, who then serenaded Hall with her hit “Heart on a String.”

And the 2011 award winners? An impressive bunch. Buddy Miller was perhaps the biggest winner of the evening, humbly accepting the awards for artist and instrumentalist of the year. Miller also joined Robert Plant and his fellow Band of Joy mates in accepting the Album of the Year award and then performing their haunting take on Low’s “Monkey.”

Justin Townes Earle garnered song of the year for “Harlem River Blues,” a song that he said was inspired by a reading of Jim Carroll’s “The Basketball Diaries.” Mumford & Sons received the Emerging Artist award in abstentia while the Avett Brothers celebrated their Duo/Group of the Year award with a performance of a new song “The Once and Future Carpenter.”

So how does one close out a show filled with magical moments? By inviting Allman, Plant and many of the evening’s performers to join the house band for a closing take on Allman’s “Glory Glory Hallelujah.” Hallelujah, indeed.

• ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Band Of Joy, ROBERT PLANT
• ARTIST OF THE YEAR: BUDDY MILLER
• INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR: BUDDY MILLER
• NEW / EMERGING ARTIST: MUMFORD AND SONS
• SONG OF THE YEAR: “Harlem River Blues” by JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE
• DUO / GROUP OF THE YEAR: THE AVETT BROTHERS
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR SONGWRITER: LUCINDA WILLIAMS
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR PERFORMANCE: GREGG ALLMAN
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR INSTRUMENTALIST: JERRY DOUGLAS
• JACK EMERSON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR EXECUTIVE: RICK HALL
• TRAILBLAZER AWARD: BOB HARRIS

WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The running joke all week was how to define Americana. The context was typically in light of Merriam-Webster having recently added the term to their dictionary. “Look it up,” was the oft-proffered response that was even featured on the event t-shirt. The reality, though, is that it is a challenge to define a music genre that touches so many other types of music. The Conference and Festival did little to resolve this question, bringing together a group of artists as diverse as they were talented. From a Muscle Shouls R&B tribute to country gentlemen Marty Stuart, from the Mexican folk stylings of the David Wax Museum to the rock of Will Hoge, well, you get the picture.

The answer came to me on the final night while listening to James McMurtry play “Levelland.” Here was a song heartfelt and honest, tackling real subjects yet with a winsome melody that was engaging enough to transcend the lyrics.

Americana isn’t about the style of music, per se, it is about musical story-telling in the finest American tradition. It documents colorful characters dealing with the curveballs that come their way, chronicling how they sometimes succeed and sometimes take it on the chin. It is about musical integrity and commitment to the song.

That, for me, is Americana.

PANELS: STORIES, INSIGHTS AND LAUGHTER
One of the pleasant surprises was a collection of informative and entertaining panels each day. The panels explored topics both musical and economic, with a typically eclectic group of industry professionals offering their perspectives.

Among those I attended was a panel on songwriting featuring John Oates (yes, that one), Jim Lauderdale, Angel Snow and Matraca Berg. They had an interesting discussion on co-writing. Oates, no stranger to the topic, talked about how the experience is as much about trust between collaborators as it is about writing an actual song.

Two panels on Technology explored various ways that musicians can find success in an online world. Ben Swank of 3rd Man Records talked about the label’s subscription series, a highly successful outing that both mines the label’s archives and delivers some pretty darn cool newly recorded digital singles.

A discussion of fan-funding (a la Kickstarter) was as much about the intangible benefits as it was about the dollars. One of the panelists remarked that one of the great benefits of the model was that it has helped artists learn how to interact with their fans.

A panel on artist development centered on the Civil Wars, with the duo’s Joy Williams and John Paul White joined by their extended business team. It was fascinating to hear from the full team as they described their methodical approach to building the Civil Wars’ commercial success while staying true to the artistic vision.

The most entertaining, if not informative, panel was called “Road Warriors: Tales from Life on the Road.” A seasoned group that included legendary road manager Phil Kaufman (of Gram Parsons fame), the Bottle Rockets’ Brian Henneman, Billy Burnette (toured with Fleetwood Mac and Bob Dylan, among others), Amy LeVere and Ian McLagan swapped stories that kept a full room entertained.

The fun started early as each described their time spent on the road. When LaVere stated that she had only been on the road consistently for three years, the rest of the panel, all lifers, affectionately jeered here. It was McLagan who summed it up best when he declared, “there’s nothing special about being on the road. It’s the one or two hours that you get to play that matter most.”

MUSIC, MUSIC EVERYWHERE
Sure, many folks were there for the official evening showcase performances, but it was hard to step foot around Nashville without seeing music. The first afternoon found Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack doing an impromptu performance in a hotel lobby space and Steve Forbert performing in an art gallery.

Nashville-based Brite Revolution magazine took over a conference room to record some impressive performances from a range of artists in attendance. I stopped by to catch the Jayhawks as an acoustic duo, sound checking with an impressive cover of “Love Hurts” before the cameras rolled for a performance of “She Walks In So Many Ways,” their latest single. (Download the studio version here).

And then there was Mojo Nixon and his program for Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country radio program. Mojo invited the Bottle Rockets, Kenny Vaughan and Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi All-Stars) into the studio for a live performance in front of a small crowd. As one would expect, Mojo’s between song banter was as entertaining as the actual performances.

Nashville’s Broadway is home to many a honky-tonk, so when in Rome… I caught a stand-out set by the Silver Threads on Friday afternoon. Featuring former Bostonians Eileen Rose (voice/acoustic guitar) and Rich Gilbert (electric guitar/pedal steel), the group tore through some country classics that included a knock-out performance of Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man.”

Along the way, Edgers interviews artists ranging from Sting to Peter Buck to Robyn Hitchcock. He even gets several of the artists to perform impromptu Kinks covers.

Check your local listings to see if the film is being shown in your area. I give it two thumbs up — the movie is a potent combination of music and humor.

And if you’re feeling generous and are quick with your mouse, you can help support the filmmakers quest for broader distribution and maybe, just maybe, a Kinks reunion. Support their Kickstarter campaign here, but be quick about it as the campaign closes Friday afternoon et.

For more on the film, visit the web site here.

Anyway, the next few weeks will unleash an abundance of great new music just in time for the change in seasons.

Think that I missed a few other good ones? Let me know.

And as a special bonus, here’s a stripped down version of “Guilty.”